Charity plea sees help handed to Africa quest

Generous residents have donated six sewing machines to an entrepreneur who is helping people to make a living in Malawi.

Physics student Alex Mansfield, of King Street, Royston, joined Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) while studying at Nottingham University and has developed the overseas project with 12 other students from the organisation.

The Weekly News ran an appeal last week to encourage readers to help the 21-year-old former Meridian School pupil by donating old or new sewing machines to develop the manufacturing skills of people in Malawi.

Alex said: “I have had a lot of people get in touch to find out more about the project.

“I am so appreciative of everyone’s help – we had six machines donated. I was very surprised that so many people had these things lying around.

“Between us we now have 12 sewing machines so we have enough, but people can still donate via the just giving link, it is an incredible project."

Donations will aid the overall programme which includes launching a groundnut oil project so the community can make its own oil and develop an existing battery pack scheme to provide electricity.